NMDPRA denies stopping gas supply to Gencos that caused 12th national grid collapse this year
NMDPRA denies stopping gas supply to Gencos over N2tr debt
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nigeria’s national grid collapsed again on Tuesday, the 12th time this year alone, halting social and economic life under the watch of Bola Tinubu, the President and Petroleum Minister, whose “tax and squander” policy makes it difficult for citizens to engage in productive activities amid unstable power supply.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has denied the initial breaking news that it issued a directive stopping gas supply to power generating companies (GenCos) over N2 trillion debt.
NMDPRA insisted in a statement that it did not order wholesale gas suppliers to stop further supply, describing the reports as false and completely unfounded.
It explained that a recent meeting it held in Lagos with OPTS, IPPG, and oil and gas stakeholders had nothing to with the allegation, it was to sensitise them on the requirements, opportunities, and benefits of wholesale supply licence as contained in Sections 142 and 197 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
“It was a follow-up to an earlier stakeholder engagement held at the NMDPRA corporate headquarters in Abuja on November 27, 2024,” the statement said.
“The Authority wishes to reassure all our stakeholders and indeed the general public that at no time was the false statement made at that event and anywhere else, and are advised to completely disregard the publication as every effort is being made to ensure that the supply and distribution of natural gas and petroleum products to end users is seamless and unabated as we head into the festive season and indeed all through the coming year 2025.”
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